Daily Devotional

While serving in the U.S. Navy, I embarked on a nine-month WestPac (Western Pacific) Cruise, ultimately to Vietnam. There was one grueling stretch of time during which we did not see land for fifty-seven long days. Not one mountain, not one shoreline. Nothing but water.
When we were not in combat operations, we were in training. There was one drill that was too often not taken seriously:

“Abandon Ship! Abandon Ship! This is not a drill!”

No sailor ever wanted to hear those dreaded words. It meant we were sinking and there was nothing that could be done. None of us were ready to “go down with the ship.” Our first thoughts were, “Where’s the nearest lifeboat?” An even more frightening thought was, “Forget the lifeboats, where do I jump?”

We were trained in boot camp to look for oil fires on the water, jump from an open deck with our arms open to dispel the oil, dive deep, and come up flailing our arms to spread the fiery oil. We were taught to tread water while we removed our wet clothes and tie them in knots (Thus the bell bottoms and tunic could be filled with air and used as “water wings”). Even that little white “dixie cup” hat sailors wear could be used as a flotation device—so they said. It worked in Boot Camp but it was certainly not something I wanted to test in a real-life or death situation.

By the way, I cheated on my Navy swim test, so there was not much hope for me. My survival strategy was to find a swimmer who paid attention in Boot Camp and hang onto him until help came. Hopefully, he also was bigger and more attractive to sharks!

Acts 27 is the record of the first part of the apostle Paul’s journey to Rome in the Fall of 60 AD to stand before Caesar, as God had promised (Acts 23:11). It is a risky time to travel by ship and Paul warns of the danger. The Roman centurion, however, listens to the ship’s pilot and the captain instead. Bad call! A violent storm threatens the ship and all on board. An angel of God appears to Paul and assures him God has granted that all 276 of them will arrive safely in Rome...but...not without running aground. They arrive on the island of Malta, as the story continues in Chapter 28.

Before we get there, let’s consider some “Lessons from a Shipwreck.” First, it is wise to take advice from someone who can speak of God “to whom I belong and whom I serve” (Acts 27:23)—who speaks to God and hears from God. Secondly, sometimes the promises of God involve violent storms and a few shipwrecks. Ultimately, He will lead us to where He promised.

In Acts 28 we find the apostle Paul and 276 shipwrecked crew safely on the Island of Malta. It is now the spring of 61 AD—six months after they left Caesarea for Rome. Paul is healed from a snake bite and heals many of the island people of their diseases. Boarding a third ship, off to Rome they sail, landing in Puteoli (Naples, Italy—the port from which my grandfather sailed to America). Chained to his guards, Paul meets a few brethren there and later travels to Rome. For two years he lives under guard but nonetheless preaching about Christ “with all openness, unhindered”—for now. Many believe it was during this time he writes Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. Thus ends the Book of Acts. Yet, there is more to the story. Let’s call it:

Acts 29: The Next Chapter in Church History
 
Did Paul stand before Caesar? Many think he did (cf. Philippians 4:22). Did Caesar release him? Many believe so and he continued his missionary service for a few more years. Around 67 AD, Paul was arrested, imprisoned in Rome, and beheaded.

Acts 29 is not about the apostle Paul; it’s about us—the people to whom he passed the baton of responsibility to share the good news concerning the Lord Jesus Christ “with all openness, unhindered” (Acts 28:30–31)—at least, for now.

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